Copying apparatus

ABSTRACT

This specification discloses improvements in a copying apparatus of the type wherein sheet originals or thicker books may be selectively moved along a copying window and wherein a conventional transport mechanism for sheet originals is connected to a transparent book support positioned on an extension of the transport mechanism, said transport mechanism for sheet originals and said book support being selectively moved in common. The improvements consist in a threshold means provided in front of the transport mechanism and a thick cover cloth provided for the book support. The threshold means is projected upwardly beyond the plane of the book support and positioned at a lower level than the cover cloth.

United States Patent [191 Petersdorf COPYING APPARATUS [75] Inventor: Gerhard Petersdorf, Pohlheim,

Germany [73] Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo,

Japan [22] Filed: July 13, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 271,272

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data July 20, 1971 Germany ..21 36 M2 [52] US. Cl 355/75, 355/8, 355/50 [51] Int. Cl. G03b 27/62 [58] Field of Search 355/13, 8, 50, 51, 75, ll

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,677,635 7/1972 Van Auken et al. 355/l3 X Primary Examiner-Samuel S. Matthews Assistant Examiner Richard A. Wintercorn Attorney, Agent, or Firm -Fitzpatrick, Celia, Harper & Scinto 5 7] ABSTRACT This specification discloses improvements in a copying apparatus of the type wherein sheet originals or thicker books may be selectively moved along a copying window and wherein a conventional transport mechanism for sheet originals is connected to a transparent book support positioned on an extension of the transport mechanism, said transport mechanism for sheet originals and said book support being selectively moved in common. The improvements consist in a threshold means provided in front of the transport mechanism and a thick cover cloth provided for the book support. The threshold means is projected up wardly beyond the plane of the book support and positioned in a lower level than the cover cloth.

2 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure COPYING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a copying apparatus, and more particularly the invention is an improvement on the invention disclosed in the copending application Ser. No. 225,483.

2. Description of the Prior Art The copying of the original invention is of the type wherein twoor three-dimensional originals such as sheets or books may be selectively moved along a copying window and wherein a transport mechanism known per se for sheet originals, preferably a pair of guide rolls, is connected to a transparent book support, preferably a glass plate, positioned on an extension of the transport mechanism, said transport mechanism for sheet originals and said book support being selectively moved in common. Such copying apparatus has an advantage that sheet originals or desired pages of a thick book can be selectively copied. To copy a sheet original, the sheet original is introduced to the guide rolls, with the aid of which the sheet original is moved through the copying apparatus in a known manner. On the other hand, where a book is to be copied, the book is placed on the glass plate and moved over a copying window by the glass plate.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to simplify the insertion of sheet originals and books into the apparatus.

Thus, according to the present invention, this object may be achieved by providing a threshold means in front of the transport mechanism for sheet originals, said threshold means being projected upwardly beyond the plane of the book support, and a thick cover cloth for the book support, said threshold means being positioned at a lower level than said thick cover cloth. With the described construction, when a book as original is placed on the glass plate, it can be moved until the edge of the book abuts against the threshold means to exactly register the position of the book with a start position definitely predetermined for copying. Further, it will be avoided that the book should be erroneously pushed to the sheet original transport rolls by the operator. If such an error took place, the sheet original transport mechanism would be damaged, because the transport mechanism is not so constructed as to pass a thick book therethrough. To insert a sheet original, such original is placed on the cover cloth superposed on the book support. Since the surface of the cover cloth is at a higher level than the threshold means, the sheet original placed on the cover cloth can be slidden over the cover cloth to readily pass over the threshold means into the transport mechanism.

In a preferred embodiment, the surface of the cover cloth is made slippery.

The invention will be described more particularly with reference to the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The drawing schematically shows an embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In a casing 200 movable by rollers 201 on a guide 202 of the apparatus not shown in detail, there is disposed a glass plate 203. A book as original may be placed on the glass plate 203 and passed over a slit-like copying window 204 by the movement of the casing. Here, an optical system, not shown in detail, projects the original upon a copy sheet of zinc oxide electrostatically charged, for example, to thereby accomplish copying. The casing 200 further includes transport rolls 1 and 4. A sheet original may be pushed through a guide slit 5 until it is nipped between the transport rolls 1.,A cover cloth 205 is fixed to the glass plate 203 as at 206.

In front of the transport rolls l is disposed a threshold 210 having a ramp surface which combines with a depending lip of a cover disposed over said transport rolls to provide a guide for smoothly directing sheet-like originals to the nip between the rollers 1. The threshold 210 has the uppermost edge 211 thereof projected upwardly beyond the plane 212 of the glass plate 203. However, the uppermost edge does not reach the upper surface 213 of the cover cloth. The upper surface 213 of the cover cloth 205 is made slippery as by evaporating a layer of slippery characteristic thereon.

To copy books, the cover cloth 205 is raised in the direction of arrow 215, whereafter a book is placed on the glass plate 203 in such a manner that the leading edge of the book abuts against the threshold 210. The cover cloth 205 is then lowered to cover and press the book against the glass plate. Thereafter, the casing 200, with the glass plate, the book and the transport rolls, is moved in the direction of arrow 216. The successive portions of the original are copied successively as the original passes over the copying window 204. To copy sheet originals, the book is removed from the glass plate 203 and a sheet original is placed on the glass plate as shown. Then the sheet original is slidden over the slippery surface of the cover cloth to pass through.

the guide slit 5 and into the transport mechanism.

1 claim:

1. In a copying apparatus of the type in which either one of a sheet-like original and thick original such as book is selectively moved along a copying window, a transport mechanism having guide rolls'for transporting a said sheet-like original past said window, and a transparent thick original carrying plate fixedly connected to said transport mechanism and extending therefrom for movement in unison with said transport mechanism to move a said thick original past said window, the improvement comprising sheet original guide means provided between said guide rolls of said transport mechanism and the thick original carrying plate, said sheet original guide means including a ramp projecting upwardly toward said carrying plate and beyond the plane of said carrying plate for receiving said sheetlike original thereover and smoothly guiding said sheetlike original downwardly to said guide rolls.

2. An improved copying apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a removable cover for said carrying plate, and a transport mechanism cover having a depending lip inclined downwardly and away from said carrying plate to define a portion of said sheet original guide means disposed in spaced relation above said ramp, wherein the uppermost surface of said ramp is disposed below the plane of said carrying plate cover, and the uppermost surface of said inclined lip is dis posed above the plane of said carrying plate cover, whereby said sheet original guide means provides an opening between said ramp and said lip for receiving a said sheet-like original and for guiding said sheet-like original to said guide rolls. 

1. In a copying apparatus of the type in which either one of a sheet-like original and thick original such as book is selectively moved along a copying window, a transport mechanism having guide rolls for transporting a said sheet-like original past said window, and a transparent thick original carrying plate fixedly connected to said transport mechanism and extending therefrom for movement in unison with said transport mechanism to move a said thick original past said window, the improvement comprising sheet original guide means provided between said guide rolls of said transport mechanism and the thick original carrying plate, said sheet original guide means including a ramp projecting upwardly toward said carrying plate and beyond the plane of said carrying plate for receiving said sheet-like original thereover and smoothly guiding said sheet-like original downwardly to said guide rolls.
 2. An improved copying apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a removable cover for said carrying plate, and a transport mechanism cover having a depending lip inclined downwardly and away from said carrying plate to define a portion of said sheet original guide means disposed in spaced relation above said ramp, wherein the uppermost surface of said ramp is disposed below the plane of said carrying plate cover, and the uppermost surface of said inclined lip is disposed above the plane of said carrying plate cover, whereby said sheet original guide means provides an opening between said ramp and said lip for receiving a said sheet-like original and for guiding said sheet-like original to said guide rolls. 